Rutgers wide receiver Brandon Coleman, a fourth-year junior, announced today that he will declare for the NFL Draft after the Scarlet Knights' season is complete. Rutgers plays Notre Dame in the Dec. 28 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.
(John Munson/The Star-Ledger)

The next time Brandon Coleman is asked about any lingering effects from off-season knee surgery and whether it impacted his play this year it won’t be by an inquiring media.

And his response won’t be through words.

“With action,” Rutgers’ fourth-year junior wide receiver said, when asked how he will answer those same questions from NFL scouts going forward. “Words, no. Actions on tape and (in) all of the workouts, yes.”

Despite a sub-par season, Coleman announced following practice today that he will forgo his final year of eligibility by entering his name into the NFL Draft this spring, meaning the Dec. 28 Pinstripe Bowl against Notre Dame will be his final college game.

And while the 6-6, 225-pounder from Accokeek, Md., didn’t detail exactly why he felt the time was right to do so – after he could have done the same thing when his stock was higher pre-knee surgery a year ago – at least one NFL draft expert thinks he can answer that.

“He’s a big-time talent, no doubt. But he’s not quite as developed as you’d like,” said Frank Coyle of DraftInsiders.com. “So I’m not sure returning to Rutgers will help him.”

Rated as a potential second-round pick a year ago when he caught 43 passes for 718 yards a tied the school single-season record with 10 TD receptions, Coleman has seen his draft status take a hit this year, with career lows in yardage, yards per catch and TDs.

The same player who once tantalized by totaling 186 yards and two TDs in one quarter (vs. Connecticut in 2011) didn’t have a 100-yard game this season. He heads into the bowl with 32 catches for 473 yards and three TDs (just one since the opener).

“I think he’s ready,” said quarterback Chas Dodd, who arrived in Piscataway with Coleman four years ago. The two connected on an 86-yard touchdown pass in the Scarlet Knights’ 27-13 Pinstripe Bowl victory over Iowa State in 2011.

Coleman said he reached his decision during the recent off week, when he finally had a chance to think about his future without any interruptions from football.

“It was a long process (of) decision making,” he said. “I spent a lot of this past week thinking about it heavy since we didn’t have a lot of football related stuff to do and that’s kind of what I came up with.

“I feel like as though I’m ready to go. I’m confident in myself. That’s all that matters.”

Coleman said he did not have the same conviction about leaving last year, despite his breakout season. That’s why he returned to Rutgers for another season.

“I felt as though I still had things to get done and I felt as though I wanted to come back. I really did,” he said. “This year I feel as though this is my time to move on to the next chapter.”

Coyle said Coleman – who is one TD catch shy of tying Tim Brown’s career mark of 20 – “still has second-round ability, but he has to prove it.”

“He has to ace his workouts and the physical because his season didn’t back up being drafted that high,” he said.

Rutgers coach Kyle Flood said Coleman has the program’s full support with his decision.

“We’re looking forward to giving him the best sendoff we can in the Pinstripe Bowl,” Flood said.

Coleman, who is one semester short of graduating, said he will now put his personal goals on the back burner until after the bowl game.